The head of the Environmental Protection Agency says Flint’s water system still faces major problems. EPA chief Gina McCarthy sent a warning letter to Governor Rick Snyder and Flint Mayor Karen Weaver.Continue reading →

Michigan Governor Rick Snyder has repeatedly claimed that Flint’s lead contaminated water crisis was caused by all levels of government. But today, a task force that he appointed called those claims “inappropriate official public relations efforts.”Continue reading →

Michigan Governor Rick Snyder and EPA Administrator Gina McCarthy were on the hot seat today (Thu.) as they tried to explain to members of Congress their responses to the drinking water crisis in Flint.Continue reading →

There were sharp words and accusations today that key officials were negligent as they allowed the water crisis in Flint to fester. The US House Oversight Committee held a hearing in Washington on the crisis.Continue reading →

The city of Alma is surrounded by three contaminated EPA superfund sites.

In an attempt to educate the community, Alma College is hosting what it’s calling an Intergenerational Health Conference to examine the effects of living so close, to so much contamination.Continue reading →

The Environmental Protection Agency earlier this month registered the first ever vertebrate pheromone biopesticide. The pheromone is one used by sea lamprey to alert other lamprey that they are looking for a mate. The EPA has approved the pheromone concoction to basically trick the eels so they can be killed easierContinue reading →

A German ship flying the Liberian flag is being held in a Great Lakes port while the Coast Guard investigates possible environmental violations.

The ship Cornelia traveled from New York to Minnesota. It likely traversed all the Great Lakes except Lake Michigan.

The Cornelia has been retained for over 2 weeks at the Duluth port on Lake Superior.

Lieutenant Pat Lammersen is with the Coast Guard. He said there’s not much he can reveal about the investigation.

“Outside the Duluth lift bridge in Lake Superior it’s anchored up, all I can say is that the Coast Guard is investigating the motor vessel Cornelia for alleged violations of U.S environmental regulations.”

Lammersen said the ship and it’s crew are not a threat to public safety.

“The Liberian flag vessel and crew are prohibited from leaving the Duluth until cleared by customs and border protection. Vessel and crew do not pose any public safety threat. Any speculation that the ship is being held in port due to safety concerns is not true.”

The ship’s crew is not allowed to leave the vessel until the investigation is over.

Last nights Saginaw Community Action Group meeting with the EPA went well according to Dave Sommers, the President of the group. Community members gave their recommendations for cleanup of the next segment of the Tittabawassee River.

It’s been five years since the federal government’s largest initiative to restore the Great Lakes was passed into law, and Congress recently agreed to fund the program for another five years.

According to Cameron Davis, the senior adviser to the administrator of the EPA, the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative is one of the few pieces of legislation that repeatedly gets bi-partisan support.Continue reading →

The former Velsicol plant site is surrounded by several community blocks where people still live.

Originally the EPA thought the contamination from the plant could be contained within the borders of the site. However, years after the initial cleanup, EPA officials determined this wasn’t the case. Continue reading →